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Ft. Pierce, Fla. (Nov. 20, 2010) – JoAnn Mason Parker won her second in a row Flamingo Billiards Tour event at the FBT Invitational this past Saturday at Ultimate Billiards. Helene Caukin finished the year with the most points and wins the title of Flamingo Billiards Tour 2010 Champion. Caukin’s first place finish also secures her spot in the 2011 WPBA Classic Tour events.

Parker started the day with a 7-4 win over Kelly Cavanaugh, 7-4 over Robin Boggs, and a 7-1 over Kim Caso to make it to the single elimination redraw. Also making it to the redraw was Jeannie Seaver, with wins over Kelly Coyle 7-1, Sabra MacArthur Beahn 7-5, and Chris Ann Fields 7-1. Christie Cloke got to the single elimination bracket beating Shanelle Loraine along the way 7-5, and Barbara Harris 7-4. Also in the redraw was Jessica Barnes, winning over Stephanie Mitchell 7-5, and Amy Poulter 7-4. On the one loss side, Chris Ann Fields fought her way back to the redraw, along with Kim Caso, Amy Poulter and Helene Caukin.

The redraw pitted Mason against Fields 7-5. Seaver beat Caso 7-3; Cloke edged out Poulter 7-5; and Barnes took Caukin 7-4. That left Parker in the semi-finals against Seaver, and Cloke against Barnes.

Seaver, who had shot lights out all day, felt the night wearing on and gave up the match to Parker 7-1. Barnes, who was also shooting in the zone all day, had a tough match against Cloke. Playing neck-and-neck and tied at 5, Cloke scratched in game 11, and Barnes went to the hill. Barnes broke and combed the 9 to move to the finals.

The final match started with Parker 2-0. Barnes got on the scoreboard when Parker scratched in game 3 after hooking herself and forced to kick. In game 4, Barnes missed the 8 and Parker was out. Score 3-1. Barnes broke in game 5, proceeded to make the 1-ball but scratched. With ball-in-hand, Parker combed the 2-9. Score 4-1. Barnes broke in game 6, ran out to the 7 and scratched giving ball-in-hand again to Parker, who was out, score 5-1. In game 7, Barnes broke and came up dry. Parker pushed out but was left with the cue ball hooked and no shot on the one. With ball-in-hand to Barnes this time, Barnes played safe leaving Parker with a jump shot on the two. Parker proceeded to jump, made the 2-ball and ran out to the 6-ball which rattled in the corner. Barnes overshot the 7 leaving bad shape on the 8-ball. But not to be deterred, Barnes banked the 8 and made the 9. Score 5-2. Just when it looked like Barnes was starting a comeback, Parker went on to take the next two games and the match.

Orlando, Fla. (Aug. 7, 2010) – “No pain, no gain” was Helene Caukin’s mantra on Saturday as she tested her own endurance as well as the proficiency and patience of her fellow Flamingo Regional Tour players.

It might have seemed like a long day for Caukin, who limped in to Corner Pocket Billiards Saturday morning with back pain, but in the end it was worth putting up with the pain. After a first-round bye and resting her back, Caukin handily defeated Jessica Barnes (7-3). Helene then expediently sent Nicolle Rasmussen to the one loss side (7-1), securing a spot in the single-elimination semi-finals. “Alleved” of pain, a lot of gain.

In the other bracket, Stephanie Mitchell, the BAAT woman (www.baattour.com), came from behind to defeat Chris Ann Fields 7 – 5. Not to be stopped, Mitchell toughed it out and sent Sabra MacArthur Beahn walking west as well (7-5).

On the one-loss side, Beahn, on the heels of her frustrating loss defeated Mimi McAndrews (7-1), making it back to the semi-finals. Rasmussen defeated Robin Boggs (7-3) to get back to the final four.

On the modified double-elimination redraw, Rasmussen had a revenge match with Caukin, and so, too, Beahn with Mitchell. However, the revenge match was not to be had by Beahn as the rolls went the other way and the game quickly slipped to 3-1 Mitchell. Sabra’s self-proclaimed theme in her rematch with Stephanie was “erratic” as she rattled corner after corner, allowing Stephanie to take the lead 4-1. In the sixth match, both players tested their patience with safeties, but in the end the safety play paid off for Mitchell, who ended up with ball in hand and ultimately took the lead to 5-1. In the seventh game, Sabra missed a tough shot on the eight and quickly found herself down 6-1. One more rattled ball in the next game and Stephanie won the match 7-1.

In Nicolle’s rematch with Helene, it looked as though Caukin was really feeling the pain as Nicolle quickly went up 5-1. But Rasmussen overcut the nine, and Caukin started to come back. Soon the score was 5-3. In game nine, Nicolle comboed the nine to go to the hill. However, closing the match proved difficult as Rasmussen scratched on the eight and Caukin was out, score 6-4. Hitting with authority in the next two games, and looking as though she was feeling no pain, Caukin’s mantra apparently kicked in (“no pain, no gain” -time), as Caukin took the match to double hill. Nicolle broke but came up dry. She got another shot at the table and barely missed a 2 -9 combo, leaving the nine hanging on the corner rail. Helene got a shot at the 2-9 but missed as well. Nicolle got yet another try at the 2-9 combo, missed but left Helene with no shot on the two. Helene shot the nine in giving ball in hand to Nicolle, who ran out to the six, missed shape and was forced to play a safety. However, the safety on the six ended up right in front of the side pocket, and Helene ran out to take the match and the spot in the finals.

With Mitchell and Caukin in the finals, it was predicted to be a tough match. Mitchell won the lag, started out strong but left the eight ball in the corner and Helene was on the board. In game three, Helene made a tough cut on the eight and proceeded to pocket the nine. Score 3-0 Caukin. Helene’s break in game four left the balls in a cluster at the end of the table. Looking like a straight pool game, the players traded safeties, each one hitting another ball and adding to the mess. At the same time, Mitchell and Caukin were attempting to three-foul each other. Caukin left Mitchell on two with a jump shot to Mitchell, who uncharacteristically missed the jump shot and Caukin was up 4-0. Running out of steam, Mitchell broke game five and ran to the five, leaving it hanging for Caukin to take a 5-0 lead. In game seven, kicking from a safety left by Caukin, Mitchell left Caukin a shot but Caukin surprisingly overcut the ball. With bridge in hand, Mitchell was on the eight but missed, and just when it looked like Caukin would run out, she left the eight hanging. Stephanie made the eight and banked the nine in the side to finally get on the board. In game eight, Caukin failed to hit a rail, giving ball in hand to Mitchell. Just when it looked like she was on the verge of yet another come back that day, Stephanie missed the nine, which Helene made, and Caukin’s pain ended up being worth the gain!

Helene won 1st Place money, a trophy and a free entry to the Flamingo Billiards Tour $1,000-added Invitational. Special thanks to Flamingo Billiards Tour sponsors Ozone Billiards ( HYPERLINK “http://www.ozonebilliards.com” www.ozonebilliards.com), Boynton Billiards ( HYPERLINK “http://www.boyntonbilliards.com” www.boyntonbilliards.com) and Tweeten Fibre ( HYPERLINK “http://www.tweeten.us” www.tweeten.us), and a very special to Tesh at Corner Pocket Billiards ( HYPERLINK “http://www.cornerpocketbilliards.com” www.cornerpocketbilliards.com), and his great staff, Bob, Donald and Brian for their great hospitality and continued support.

RESULTS

($250 added, modified double-elimination)

1st Helene Caukin ($350)

2nd Stephanie Mitchell ($230)

3rd Sabra MacArthur-Beahn ($100)

3rd Nicolle Rasmussen ($100)

5th Robin Boggs ($60)

5th Mimi McAndrews ($60)

7th Julie Skripac

7th Melissa Durkin

9th Jessica Barnes

9th Kelly Cavanaugh

9th Chris Ann Fields

9th Christie Cloke

13th Barbara Ellis

The next Flamingo Billiards Tour stop is the special Cues for the Cure breast cancer fundraiser event Saturday, October 9th at Amy’s Billiards in Stuart, Florida. (www.amysbilliards.com). Check www.flamingobilliardstour.com for all details.